This NFL has been insane, but nothing tops the theme of Week 8: Upset Mania.
The Denver Broncos secured a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, ending a 16-game losing streak against their divisional foe. The Carolina Panthers beat the Houston Texans, showing that the future of the League is in very good hands with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud leading the way. The Tennessee Titans steamrolled over the Atlanta Falcons with Will “Mayo Man” Levis leading the way in the throwback Houston Oilers uniforms.
However, after this chaotic week, a new team (for this year) will be earning Top Team honors. That team is the Cincinnati Bengals, who defeated the San Fransico 49ers with a final score of 31-17.
Getting Hot at the Right Time
Ever since Week 6, when the Bengals played the Arizona Cardinals, they have been getting hot. After a rough start, Cincinnati is now 4-3 in a very winnable AFC North that will be a dogfight until the very end. In his last three games, Joe Burrow has thrown for at least 185 yards and two touchdowns. In this matchup, he had arguably his best performance of the season, completing 28 of 32 passes (87.5 percent completion rate) for 283 yards and three touchdowns.
There was a whole bunch going on here pic.twitter.com/AXObdM8GMJ
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) October 31, 2023
Bengals’ Offense is Cooking
As previously mentioned, Burrow threw for three touchdowns. Those three scores went to wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, and sixth-round rookie Andrei Iosivas. (This is proof that the Bengals are printing out successful receivers like money.) Joe Mixon also got in on the touchdown action. He had 16 carries for 87 yards. By the final whistle, the Bengals had found the end zone four times.
Joe Mixon shows off his burst to get outside of Nick Bosa and then is able to literally dance into the end zone. pic.twitter.com/zzJqzDXDln
— mike (@bengals_sans) October 31, 2023
Cincy’s Defense Made Brock Purdy’s Sunday a Living Hell
The defense was able to pressure an above-average 49ers offense. The Bengals held Purdy to 365 yards and only one touchdown, including an interception courtesy of Germaine Pratt in the third quarter. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo proved that he deserves serious head coach consideration in the upcoming offseason.
This season has lived up to the famous saying, “Any Given Sunday.” Cincinnati has found its legs at a perfect time. As long as they keep it up until December, a playoff berth will absolutely be in their future.
Is @Bengals DC Lou Anarumo the best DC in the #NFL ?
Plans like the one vs SF puts his name into the convo#nfllive pic.twitter.com/J2S9fmtl8j
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) October 30, 2023
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